Category: Peace Corps

I served as a Peace Corps volunteer in Thailand from 2013 to 2015. I worked as a Primary Teacher Trainer and lived in Isaan, the rural northeast of the country. In these posts, you’ll find information relating to Peace Corps and things related to the program and agency, as well as official Peace Corps work from my time in Thailand. For Thailand specific information, check out the Thailand category.

Textiles, Fabrics and Clothing in Thailand

January 6, 2015

When I went back to the U.S. for the Top Bloggers’ Tour, one of the things I did was give 15 minute presentations to elementary school students about Thailand. With such a short amount of time, I decided to tell the kids about one aspect of Thailand that it is famous for: its textiles and fabrics, and so I passed around examples of different kinds of scarfs and gave them an opportunity to dress up in some of the Thai clothes that I have. There is a lot going on in the textile, fabric and fashion world here in Thailand.

more “Textiles, Fabrics and Clothing in Thailand” …

Thai’ing the Knot–An Isaan Wedding Ceremony

December 30, 2014

I’m on vacation, but my fellow volunteer and friend Carly just wrote this amazing post about Thai weddings with some stunning pictures and videos. I haven’t had a chance to attend a wedding and probably won’t in the next three months, so please click through to read more about Thai weddings.

Thai’ing the Knot–An Isaan Wedding Ceremony

Back in July, I went to my first Thai wedding!  Since I’ve attended many Thai funerals during my service, this was a very welcome change.  Wedding ceremonies differ quite a bit from those back home in America, so it was a fascinating experience!  Especially considering I didn’t know what was happening, or why, the majority of the time. However, thanks to some discussions with my counterparts and neighbors after the events, I was able to understand some of the traditions and customs of a traditional Northeast Thailand, a region known as Isaan, wedding ceremony.  Also, if you want to read more about Thai wedding traditions from a Thai perspective, check out this fantastic blog! It was a big help in piecing together the missing parts of the puzzle.

Christmas Cheer from Ban Nonravieng School

December 28, 2014

Last year, for Christmas, I went to my friend and fellow Peace Corps volunteer Jill’s site. She held a great Christmas camp for the students at her school and I decided I wanted to do something at my school. So this year, I enlisted the help of the teachers at my school and planned out some Christmas festivities. One of the lessons was learning Christmas carols, which you can see here!

Planning a trip to Thailand? Check out my 2 Weeks in Thailand itinerary. It will take you to all the best spots, making sure you don’t miss any of the highlights.

2004 Indian Ocean Tsunami: 10 Years Later

December 26, 2014

While for most people that I know, today is a day to relax and enjoy the afterglow from the previous days’ festivities, here in Thailand and across Southeast and Southern Asia it is a day of remembrance. Ten years ago today, the most destructive tsunami in modern history tore through the Indian Ocean and took the lives of over 227,000 people, with more than 5,000 confirmed in Thailand, alone. To this day, there are around 3,000 people who are still missing.

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Documentary Review: Posh Corps

December 23, 2014

A quick scroll through the Peace Corps Couchsurfing Facebook group will easily turn up a handful of posts from other volunteers who are coming to Thailand, either to get away from the cold of their country of service or to celebrate with a Close of Service vacation. Bangkok is also the medical hub for the Europe, Mediterranean and Asia region, and often the islands in the Pacific as well. I met a couple in Cambodia, whose response to me telling them I was a Peace Corps volunteer in Thailand was, “I didn’t know we still had Peace Corps in Thailand.”

The infrastructure – paved roads, running water, consistent electricity. The amenities – 3G Internet, a wide variety of Western and ethnic food choices in multiple cities, washing machines. These things have earned Peace Corps Thailand the somewhat derogatory title of “Posh Corps” in the Peace Corps community. And Thailand is not the only one.

Returned Peace Corps volunteer (RPCV) Alan Toth served in South Africa, another country that has the Posh Corps label attached to it, and made a documentary about volunteers in South Africa exploring what it means to serve as a Peace Corps volunteer and touches on serving in a more developed country.

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Making Sticky Rice, an Isaan Staple

December 21, 2014

Northeastern Thailand, known as Isaan, is a little bit different than the rest of the country. Here, they are known particularly for eating sticky rice. Sticky rice is different than normal rice and is made differently, too. Check out this video, from friend and fellow Peace Corps volunteer Dan, where grandpa makes some sticky rice!

Planning a trip to Thailand? Check out my 2 Weeks in Thailand itinerary. It will take you to all the best spots, making sure you don’t miss any of the highlights.

Names, Nicknames and Honorifics in Thailand

December 9, 2014

I have a confession to make. After 23 months in Thailand, I still don’t know the names of many people I interact with, and I am well past the point where I could say, “I’m sorry, what was your name again?” And you’re probably thinking, can’t you just listen to what other people call them and figure out their names that way? But, even still, I just don’t know.

However! This is not a social flaw! There are a couple of very legitimate reasons for why I don’t know people’s names and why it’s not rude of me to be in such a position.

more “Names, Nicknames and Honorifics in Thailand” …

A Variety Sample of Dancing in Thailand

December 7, 2014

I love how proud Thais are of Thai dancing. It gets incorporated into nearly every event and everyone gets involved. My friend and fellow Peace Corps volunteer, Rebecca, made a video of a sampling of some of the dancing she’s seen in her time here. Check it out!

Planning a trip to Thailand? Check out my 2 Weeks in Thailand itinerary. It will take you to all the best spots, making sure you don’t miss any of the highlights.